Basket-ball retriever



June 17, 1930. F. J. HATLEY 1,755,269

BASKETBALL R ETRIEVER Filed April 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' F. J. HATLEY BASKETBALL RETRIEVER June 17, 1930.

2 Sheets-heet 2 Filed April 1, 1929 gwvmto'o Patented June 17, 1930 near gazes FRED J. HATLEY, F BLUE MOUNT), ILLINOIS BASKET-BALL RETRIEVER Application filedApril 1, 1929.

The object of the invention is to provide equipment for use in connection with the basket usually employed in basketball games, so that the skill of the foul thrower may be readily developed by the coach without the distractions usually attending such practice, as where the ball must be retrieved by other players; to provide a device which, when in position, will return the ball directly to the practicing player; to provide a device of this nature which may be readily dismantled and folded up when not in use; and to provide a device which is of simple construction and therefore susceptible of cheap manufacture and low marketing cost.

With this object in View the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the meth 0d of connection between the device and the backboard.

Fi ure 4 is a front elevational view of one of the supporting brackets.

Figure 5 is an elevational View illustrating the latch for securing the sections and the side rails in alignment.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the foot portion of the retriever.

The invention is designed to be readily mounted in a downwardly inclined position from the backboard 10 to the foul line at which the practicing player stands. The basket 11 is mounted as usual, on the back board 10 and, as the ball drops through the basket, or misses it returns to the player.

The invention comprises the side rails 12 of which the upper ends are detachably engaged with the bracket plates 14 and the lower ends fit in the foot rail 15. The side rails are spanned with a canvas sheeting 16 formed with a full central portion of which the fabric sections are connected in the form of a trihedral angle and constitute a pocket 17 from which the ball is ejected by reason Serial No. 351,635.

of the inclined position of the pocket.

The bracket plates 14 are formed with loop portions 18 disposed at an angle with reference to the body portions, so as tobe at right angles to the axis of the side rails 12 when the latter are attached. The side rails extend through the loops 18 of the bracket plates and on the under faces are notched and carry seat plates 19 fitted into' and conforming to the notches and constitutmg seats which engage the lower edges of the loops 18. By this construction, when the side rails are attached to the bracket plates, the upper ends are not only supported by the latter but longitudinal movement of the side rails is prevented.

The foot rail 15 consists of two sections united by means of a hinge 20 and the remote ends of the sections are notched as indicated at 21 to provide seats for'the lower ends of the side rails. The hinge 20 lies on the top of the foot rail and when the side rails are seated in the notches 21, effective stretching of the sheeting 16 at the lower end is secured.

The side rails 12 are also of sectional form, the sections being united by means of hinges 22, so that the'sections may be swung over into parallelism with each other or extended into alignment with each other, in which latter position, they are secured by means of latch plates 23 which are pivoted as indicated at 24 on one section, extend across the joint and are detachably connected with the other section, this detachable connection, in the illustrated embodiment, consisting of slots 25 on the plates 23 which are entered by bolts 26 carrying thumb nuts 27 which bear upon the plates.

The operation of the invention when set up for practice work is obvious. The player standing at the foul line will cast for the basket and the ball dropping through will itall into the pocket 17 and be returned to The device may be readily folded up when its use is not desired, the foot rail being detached and the sections folded over on each other, after which the side rails may be detached from the brackets and their sections folded after the disconnection of the latch plates 23. The two side rails and connected fabric may then be rolled together with the foot rail inclosed.

The invention having been described what is claimed as new and useful is:

l. A basketball retriever consisting of side rails provided with means for detachable connection with the backboard of a basketball basket, a fabric stretched between the side rails and provided with a central told portion defining a pocket with downwardly converging side walls, and a foot rail connected with the side rails at the lower end and serving as a stretcher for the fabric.

2. A basketball retriever having side rails and means for detachably connecting the same with the backboard of a basketball basket, a foldable foot rail with which the lower ends of the side railsare detachably engaged, and a fabric member spanning the side rails and formed with a central fold portion defining a pocket having downwardly converging side rails the sine rails consisting of foldable sections and releasable latchin means for holdin the sections in aligned or extended position In testimony whereof he afiines his signature.

FRED J. HATLEY. 

